Portable flood barrier section and flood barrier

ABSTRACT

A portable flood barrier section is located on a ground ( 2 ) to form a barrier ( 3 ) against flooding water ( 4 ), comprising an erectable wall ( 5 ) which along one of its edges ( 6 ) is hinged to a basis. The hinge ( 7 ) enables a rotating erection (A) of the wall ( 5 ) from an essentially horizontal position to an erected position. A flexible or rigid tie ( 8, 9 ), which extends from the basis to the wall ( 5 ) on the flooded side ( 10 ) of the wall ( 5 ), prevents an erection of the wall ( 5 ) beyond the erected position. A seal ( 12 ) is in the erected position of the flood barrier section ( 1 ) located between the flood barrier section and the ground ( 2 ). The flood barrier section ( 1 ) is adapted to, prior to flooding, to expose the seal ( 12 ) to a positive sealing pressure exceeding a pressure caused by the weight of the flood barrier section ( 1 ). The invention also relates to a flood barrier ( 3 ) comprising flood barrier sections ( 1 ).

The invention relates to a portable flood barrier section to be locatedon a ground to form a barrier against flooding water, comprising anerectable wall which along one of its edges is hinged to a basis, thehinge enabling a rotating erection of the wall from an essentiallyhorizontal position to an erected position, and a flexible or rigid tiewhich extends from the basis to the wall on the flooded side of thewall, to prevent an erection of the wall beyond the erected position.

The invention also relates to a flood barrier comprising flood barriersections.

Flooding, caused by melted snow, storms or heavy rain, each year causegreat damage and sometimes personal injury. Various types of barricadesare used as flood barriers. An example of a barricade is the sandbagbarricade. This barricade is, however, slow to build, and the buildingrequire a lot of labour.

Flood barriers which can be erected more quickly are known. GB 1 562 022describes a flood barrier section or barrage which is permanentlyattached to a basis formed by a threshold structure on the bottom of awaterway to be dammed, the threshold structure being provided with ahollow recess to receive the barrage. The barrage comprises a wall orflap which along one of its edges is hinged to the threshold structure,the hinge enabling a rotating erection of the wall from an essentiallyhorizontal position to an erected position, in order to form a barrieragainst flooding water. A tie which extends from the threshold structureto the wall on the flooded side of the wall prevents an erection of thewall beyond the erected position.

A drawback of the flood barrier according to GB 1 562 022 is that boththe threshold structure and the various elements of the barrier areexposed to the environment when not in use. Such exposure to humidity,and possibly frost or heat, will after some years normally causecorrosion and malfunctioning. Further, the location of the flood barrieris restricted to the location of the threshold structure.

Portable flood barriers, which can be stored under controlled conditionswhen not in use, are also known. SE 507 121 describes portable floodbarrier sections to be located on a ground to form a barrier againstflooding water, comprising a vertical wall which along its lower edge isattached to a support plate. A tie which extends from the support plateto the wall on the flooded side of the wall prevents the wall fromyielding to the pressure of the flooding water. In a collapsibleembodiment the wall and the support plate can be separated, and thesupport plate has a groove for fixing the wall. A flexible waterproofsheet prevents leakage through the connection between the wall and thesupport plate.

A drawback of the flood barrier according to SE 507 121 is that watermay leak underneath the support plate. Further, in the collapsibleembodiment, the connection between the wall and the support plate willeasily loosen.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable flood barriersection and a portable flood barrier for which water leakage underneaththe flood barrier section or the flood barrier and the ground isprevented or is only small. A further object is that the portable floodbarrier section preferably shall be collapsible, in order to enablecompact storing when not in use.

The objects are achieved by a portable flood barrier section accordingto claim 1 and a flood barrier according to claim 12.

The invention thus relates to a portable flood barrier section to belocated on a ground to form a barrier against flooding water, comprisingan erectable wall which along one of its edges is hinged to a basis, thehinge enabling a rotating erection of the wall from an essentiallyhorizontal position to an erected position, and a flexible or rigid tiewhich extends from the basis to the wall on the flooded side of thewall, to prevent an erection of the wall beyond the erected position.The portable flood barrier section is provided with a seal which in theerected position of the flood barrier section is located between theflood barrier section and the ground. The flood barrier section isadapted to, prior to flooding, to expose the seal to a positive sealingpressure exceeding a pressure caused by the weight of the flood barriersection. It is thereby provided a portable flood barrier section forwhich water leakage underneath the flood barrier section and the groundis prevented or is only small. The hinge between the wall and the basismakes the portable flood barrier section collapsible.

The portable flood barrier section according to the invention can berealised in various embodiments.

In one embodiment of the portable flood barrier section the basis isformed by a support plate which is located on the flooded side of thewall. In this embodiment the seal may be located under the supportplate.

In another embodiment the basis is formed by a permanent foundation inthe ground. In both this embodiment and the embodiment in which thebasis is formed by a support plate, the wall may be provided with aprojecting seal flange extending along the hinged edge of the wall, andthe seal may be located under the seal flange.

In addition to the positive sealing pressure from the flood barriersection according to the invention, the seal is during the floodingexposed to a sealing pressure which is caused by the pressure of theflooding water. An increasing water height, which will cause anincreasing tendency to water leakage underneath the flood barriersection, also causes an increasing pressure on the flood barriersection, which in turn causes an increasing sealing pressure.

The invention also relates to a flood barrier comprising flood barriersections according to the invention. In this flood barrier, the floodbarrier sections are mutually joined in the longitudinal direction ofthe flood barrier by waterproof second seals.

Further objects and embodiments of the invention will appear from thedetailed part of the description and the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a portable flood barriersection and a flood barrier according to the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates a detail from FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a portable flood barriersection according to the invention,

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a portable flood barriersection according to the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a portable flood barriersection according to the invention,

FIG. 6 illustrates a foundation to be used with the invention, and

FIG. 7 illustrates another foundation to be used with the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. The flood barrier section 1 islocated on a ground 2, and together with an adjoining flood barriersection 1′ and other not illustrated flood barrier sections, theillustrated flood barrier section forms a flood barrier 3 againstflooding water 4.

The flood barrier section 1 comprises an erectable wall 5 which alongone of its edges 6, i.e. its lower edge, is hinged to a basis, which isformed by a support plate 13 which is located on the flooded side 10 ofthe wall 5. A hinge 7, which will be discussed later, enables a rotationof the wall 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow A, between a notillustrated essentially horizontal, collapsed storage position in whichthe wall 5 is located on top of the support plate 13, and theessentially vertical erected position which is illustrated in FIG. 1.The hinge 7 thus enables erecting the wall 5 from the storage positionto the erected position when the flood barrier is to be used.

A flexible tie 8, formed by a rope, is in one end attached to anattachment 49 of the wall 5, and in the other end attached to anattachment 50 of a support bracket 48. The support bracket 48 isattached to the support plate 13 by a hinge 39, and is able to rotateinto a collapsed position, as illustrated by the arrow B. The tie 8extends from the support plate 13 to the wall 5 on the flooded side 10of the wall 5, and prevents an erection of the wall 5 beyond the erectedposition in FIG. 1.

In use, when water 4 is present on the flooded side 10 of the wall 5, apotential problem is leakage of water underneath the flood barriersection 1, to the non-flooded side 11. To prevent this, the floodbarrier section 1 is provided with a seal 12 which in the erectedposition of the flood section 1 is located between the flood barriersection and the ground 2. The flood barrier section 1 is adapted to,prior to flooding, to expose the seal 12 to a positive sealing pressureexceeding a pressure caused by the weight of the flood barrier section1, i.e. the seal 12 is exposed to a sealing pressure which is largerthan it would have been if the seal 12 was just placed underneath theflood barrier section 1, and the flood barrier section was resting onthe seal 12.

In the embodiment in FIG. 1, ballast in the form of a sand bag 14 islocated upon the support bracket 48, which ballast forces the supportplate 13 downwards. The seal 12 is located under the support plate 13,close to an edge 54 of the support plate 13 which is distal to the wall5. The weight of the wall 5 and the ballast 14 causes the support plate13 to exert a downwardly directed levering action, which causes apositive sealing pressure on the seal 12. The weight of the water 4above the support plate 13 also causes a downwardly directed pressure onthe support plate 13, which causes a sealing pressure on the seal 12. Anincreasing water height, which will cause an increasing tendency towater leakage underneath the flood barrier section 1, also causes anincreasing pressure on the support plate 13, which in turn causes anincreasing sealing pressure on the seal 12.

A sheet of water-proof canvas 16, which is attached to the ground 2 bypegs 17 and squeezed between the support plate 13 and the supportbracket 48, provides an additional sealing effect. The pegs 17 provide atemporarily attachment between the support plate 13 and the ground 2.

In the embodiment in FIG. 1, the hinge 7 is formed by a flexible sheet15 which is attached to the wall 5 and the support plate 13. Preferablythe flexible sheet 15 is waterproof and attached to the support plate 13and the wall 5 by a suitable waterproof adhesive. This ensures a leaktight connection between the support plate 13 and the wall 5.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detail from FIG. 1, and it can be seen that theflexible sheet 15 is attached to the upper side of the support plate 13,i.e. the side of the support plate facing the water 4. Further theflexible sheet 15 is attached to the side of the wall 5 which faces awayfrom the flooding water 4, i.e. the non-flooded side 11 of the wall 5.The water 4 exerts a pressure both on the support plate 13 and the wall5, and this way of attaching the flexible sheet 15 ensures that, in thearea of the hinge 7, the water pressure causes a positive pressurebetween the flexible sheet 15 and the support plate 13, and also betweenthe flexible sheet 15 the wall 5. This way of attaching the flexiblesheet 15 to the support plate 13 and the wall 5 thereby ensures that theconnection between the support plate 13 and the wall 5 does not tearapart.

In a not illustrated embodiment, in which the support bracket 48 is notincluded, the ballast 14 can be placed directly on the support plate 13,and the seal 12 can be located under the support plate.

The flood barrier sections 1, 1′, see FIG. 1, are mutually joined in thelongitudinal direction of the flood barrier 3 by waterproof second seals21. Such second seals may be formed by water-tight zip-fasteners orseal-lips which are attached to the flood barrier sections by velcroue.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. Like the flood barrier section inFIG. 1, this flood barrier section also has a wall 5, a support plate 13and a flexible sheet 15 which forms a hinge 7 between the wall and thesupport plate, and which provides a possibility for moving the wall asillustrated by the arrow A. Instead of the support bracket 48 in FIG. 1,this flood barrier section has a hinge bracket 23 which is attached toan edge 54 of the support plate which is distal to the wall 5 by meansof bolts 25, and which forms an attachment for a flexible tie 8 whichprevents the wall 5 from being erected beyond the erected position.

In the embodiment in FIG. 3, the support plate 13 is adapted totemporarily attachment to a permanent foundation 18 in the ground 2.This is achieved by the hinge bracket 23, which via a curved portion 24is hinged to a hinge pin 22 of the foundation 18. The foundation 18 willhave to be built prior to the flooding, in an area in which flooding isexpected, and at a place in which it is suitable to erect the floodbarrier. The seal 12 is located under the support plate 13, close to theedge 54 of the support plate 13 which is distal to the wall 5. Thepositive sealing pressure on the seal 12 is caused by a levering actiondue to the weight of the wall 5 and the hinge 22, 24 to the permanentfoundation 18. The seal 12 is located on the foundation 18. The surfaceof the foundation 18 is fairly flat, which ensures a good sealingbetween the support plate 13 and the foundation. Thus there is no needfor the water-proof canvas 16 which is illustrated in FIG. 1. Duringflooding, water (not illustrated) above the support plate 13 press thesupport plate down and creates an increased sealing pressure on the seal12.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. Like the flood barrier section inFIGS. 1 and 3, this flood barrier section also has a wall 5 and asupport plate 13, which are hinged together by a hinge 7 which enablesrotation of the wall 5 in the direction illustrated by arrow A. Thehinge 7 consist of a flexible sheet 15 attached to the wall 5 on theflooded side 10 of the wall and the support plate 13 on the upper side.A right-angled support bracket 29 on the non-flooded side 11 of the wall5 is attached to the support plate 13 and keeps the lower side of thewall 5 in place adjacent to the support plate 13. A rigid tie 9connected to a snap fastener 31 on the wall 5 and a snap fastener 32 onthe support plate 13, prevents the wall 5 from moving beyond the erectedposition, and at the same time holds the wall 5 in an erected position.

The support plate 13 is adapted to temporarily attachment to a permanentfoundation 18 in the ground by means of a tension band 30. The tensionband 30 is attached in one end to the snap fastener 32 on the supportplate 13, at a position near an edge 54 of the support plate 13 distalto the wall 5. The other end of the tension band 30 is attached to a pin22 of the foundation 18. The tension band 30 may be flexible and/oradjustable, since this will give an easier installation of the floodbarrier. The tension band 30 is favourable made of a material withlittle or no elasticity, but it may be elastic. As for the embodiment inFIG. 3, the foundation 18 will have to be built prior to the flooding,in an area in which flooding is expected, and at place in which it issuitable to erect a flood barrier.

In the embodiment in FIG. 4, the seal 12 is located under the supportplate 13 distal to the wall 5. The positive sealing pressure is causedby a levering action due to the weight of the wall 5 and the supportplate 13 and the tension in the tension band 30 connected to thefoundation 18. Further, sealing pressure on the seal 12 is also providedby the weight of the water during flooding, which will press the supportplate 13 down. The seal 12 is, as in the embodiment in FIG. 3 located onthe foundation 18.

FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a portable flood barriersection 1 according to the invention. This embodiment does not have anysupport plate, instead the basis is formed by a permanent foundation 18in the ground 2.

A hinge bracket 23 is attached to the wall 5 by bolts 25. A curvedportion 24 of the hinge bracket 23 is hooked around a hinge pin 22 ofthe foundation 18, and it is thereby provided a hinge 7 between the wall5 and the foundation 18, which enables a rotation of the wall 5 in thedirection illustrated by the arrow A. A rigid tie rod 9 which via a hook37 is attached to a tie rod bracket 38 of the wall 5, and via a hook 35is hinged to a tie rod pin 36 of the foundation 18, prevents the wall 5from being erected beyond the erected position.

As for the previous embodiments, reference numeral 10 indicates theflooded side of the wall 5, while reference numeral 11 indicates thenon-flooded side.

The wall 5 is along a lower edge 6 provided with a projecting sealflange 19 which is formed by a side of an angle 33 which is attached tothe wall 5. A flexible waterproof sheet 15 is attached to the wall 5 onthe flooded side 10 and the underside of the seal flange 19. The seal 12is located under the seal flange 19, and the positive sealing pressureis caused by a levering action C on the seal flange 19 due to a forcefrom the tie rod 9. Additional sealing pressure is caused by the factthat water pressure from the flooding water tries to rotate the wall 5beyond its erected position, which means that the wall 5 exerts alevering action in the direction C on the seal flange 19. This in turncauses the seal flange 19 to press the seal 12 down, which createssealing between the seal flange 19 and the foundation 18.

FIG. 6 illustrates a foundation 18 to be used with the invention. Thisfoundation is made in the ground 2 in an area in which flooding isexpected, and in a location in which it is suitable to raise a floodbarrier. On the left side 10 of the foundation 18, in which flooding canbe expected, there is a grassy plain 44. On the right side, i.e. on thenon-flooded side 11, there is an asphalt road 43. Thus the flood barrierwill be erected along a road.

The foundation 18 is made from concrete, with reinforcing bars 40 madefrom steel. An upper reinforcing bar 40 is bent into a staggered shape,with portions 22 forming hinge pins in recesses 53 of the concrete.Thermal insulation 41 protects the foundation from frost damage. Furthera waterproof subsurface membrane 20 extends from the permanentfoundation 18 in the direction of the flooded area, i.e. in thedirection of the grassy plain 44, in order to protect the foundation 18from flooding water, and ensures that there is no water leakageunderneath the foundation.

FIG. 7 illustrates another foundation to be used with the invention.This foundation consists of an angle 45 with a horizontal side 46 and avertical, pointed side 47. This foundation can easily be placed in asoft ground 2, simply by pressing the pointed side 47 down into theground by suitable means. In soft soil this may be done manually. Thevertical side 47 prevents leakage underneath the flood barrier, and atthe same time provides support for the horizontal side 46, which willform a sealing surface towards the seal of the flood barrier. Byproviding a number of foundation angles 45, 45′ in a longitudinaldirection, a foundation for a flood barrier can easily and quickly bemade.

The seal 12 in all the different embodiments of the flood barriersections and the flood barrier, can be of several types. The seal may bepermanently or removable attached to the flood barrier sections or tothe foundation. The seal can be attached to the flood barrier section bye.g. an adhesive or a tongue and groove connection, or the seal can alsobe placed loosely between the flood barrier section and the foundationor ground. The seal 12 may consist of a long, continuous seal that canbe used for a number of flood barrier sections or a single seal for eachflood barrier section. Another possibility is a first seal 12 coveringmore than one flood barrier section 1 and overlapping with a second seal12 covering more than one second flood barrier section 1′.

The seal may be of different types and materials. One example is a sealof flexible rubber, and it can be hollow, to ensure a good flexibilityand adaptation to an uneven ground. A seal 12 that is adaptable to anuneven ground is especially important for the embodiment shown in FIG.1, where the flood barrier sections are placed on the ground and not onan even foundation. The seal 12 can be inflatable, by for instance a gaslike air or even water. The seal 12 may be made of or partly consist ofmaterials that swell in contact with water, so that it will tend toswell into gaps for example in an uneven ground. In a seal that consistof only a swelling material, the swelling material would also have toprevent flood water from coming through the seal. A seal that partlyconsist of swelling material may be formed with a watertight material onthree of its sides, top, bottom and the side faced the non-flooded sideof the flood barrier section and a material within that swells incontact with water. Since the watertight material only cover threesides, the swelling material will come in contact with the water andswell and by that, force the watertight material against the floodbarrier section and the ground or the foundation and provide a tightseal.

The wall and the support plate can be made from various materials, e.g.waterproof plywood or another laminate.

1. A portable flood barrier section (1) to be located on a ground (2) toform a barrier (3) against flooding water (4), comprising an erectablewall (5) which along one of its edges (6) is hinged to a basis, thehinge (7) enabling a rotating erection (A) of the wall (5) from anessentially horizontal position to an erected position, a flexible orrigid tie (8, 9) which extends from the basis to the wall (5) on theflooded side (10) of the wall (5), to prevent an erection of the wall(5) beyond the erected position, and a seal (12) which in the erectedposition of the flood barrier section (1) is located between the floodbarrier section and the ground (2), and that the flood barrier section(1) is adapted to, prior to flooding, expose the seal (12) to a positivesealing pressure exceeding a pressure caused by the weight of the floodbarrier section (1), wherein the basis is formed by a support plate (13)located on the flooded side (10) of the wall (5), an edge (54) of thesupport plate distal to the wall (5) is hinged (22, 23, 24, 30) to apermanent foundation (18) in the ground, and the seal (12) is locatedunder the support plate (13), close to the edge (54) of the supportplate (13) which is distal to the wall (5), the positive sealingpressure on the seal (12) being caused by a levering action due to theweight of the wall (5) and the hinge (22, 24, 30) to the permanentfoundation (18).
 2. A portable flood barrier section (1) according toclaim 1, wherein the hinge (22,30) between the support plate (13) andthe foundation (18), is formed by a tension band (30) attached to theupper side of the support plate (13) and a hinge pin (22) in thefoundation (18).
 3. A portable flood barrier section (1) according toeither of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the hinge (7) is formed by aflexible sheet (15) which is attached to the upper side of the supportplate (13) and the side of the wall (5) facing away from the floodingwater (4).
 4. A portable flood barrier section (1) according to claim 3,wherein a waterproof subsurface membrane (20) extends from the permanentfoundation (18) in the direction of the flooded area.
 5. A portableflood barrier section (1) according to claim 4, wherein the seal (12)comprises a material that swells in contact with water.
 6. A portableflood barrier section (1) according to claim 4, wherein the seal (12) isinflatable.
 7. A flood barrier (3) comprising flood barrier sections (1)according to claim 4, the flood barrier sections (1) being mutuallyjoined in the longitudinal direction of the flood barrier (3) bywaterproof second seals (21).
 8. A portable flood barrier section (1)according to claim 3, wherein the seal (12) comprises a material thatswells in contact with water.
 9. A portable flood barrier section (1)according to claim 3, wherein the seal (12) is inflatable.
 10. A floodbarrier (3) comprising flood barrier sections (1) according to claim 3,the flood barrier sections (1) being mutually joined in the longitudinaldirection of the flood barrier (3) by waterproof second seals (21). 11.A portable flood barrier section (1) according to either of claims 1 or2, wherein a waterproof subsurface membrane (20) extends from thepermanent foundation (18) in the direction of the flooded area.
 12. Aportable flood barrier section (1) according to claim 11, wherein theseal (12) comprises a material that swells in contact with water.
 13. Aportable flood barrier section (1) according to claim 11, wherein theseal (12) is inflatable.
 14. A flood barrier (3) comprising floodbarrier sections (1) according to claim 11, the flood barrier sections(1) being mutually joined in the longitudinal direction of the floodbarrier (3) by waterproof second seals (21).